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A system under strain: Commonwealth Budget 2018-19

Posted 08 January 2018

The Victorian Healthcare Association calls on the Australian Government to ensure its 2018-19 Budget supports Australians, regardless of age, socio-economic status, ability or place of residence, to access safe, high-quality public healthcare. With the health system continuing to be stretched and under enormous strain, the VHA also calls on government to focus its funding on wellness initiatives that keep people out of hospital, through a dedicated focus on health prevention and promotion.

With an ever-increasing population and one that is ageing and has a growing prevalence of chronic disease, there is a need for government to join health services in confronting their challenges head-on, to ensure they can continue to deliver the highest quality person-centred care that is both effective and efficient.

The VHA seeks urgent policy and funding responses from the Australian Government in the core areas of enshrining longer term funding, supporting care in rural communities, ensuring remote communities have equitable access to care, a longer-term commitment to improve oral health, tackling the burden of chronic disease, maintaining choice for privately insured patients using public hospitals, supporting public providers to deliver high quality aged care services, building capacity and awareness of My Health Record, and improving health outcomes for people with a disability.

The VHA consulted widely with its members in developing its Commonwealth Budget recommendations. Our recommendations reflect the views of members from hospitals, community health services and multi-purpose services across metropolitan, regional and rural Victoria. In its 80th year of representing the Victorian public health sector, the VHA welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the development of the 2018-19 Australian Budget.

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